Top Komen Officials Resign

Following much controversy regarding the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s partnership with Planned Parenthood, five executives from the Komen Foundation have resigned. Dara Richardson-Heron, CEO of the Greater New York City Komen affiliate, Katrina McGhee, Komen’s Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Nancy Macgregor, Vice President of Global Networks, Joanna Newcomb, Director of Affiliate Strategy and Planning, and Karen Handel, Komen’s Vice President for Public Policy have all indicated plans to leave the Foundation.

To date, over 1,000 people have also signed an online petition calling for Komen CEO Nancy Brinker to step down from her position, according to the New York Times/i>. Leslie Aun, a spokeswoman for the Komen Foundation, stated, “We know people have been upset by recent events, but most really we do recognize the importance of our work.”

In January, the Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure announced that, in accordance with its new policies, it would no longer award grants to Planned Parenthood affiliates to conduct breast cancer screenings, education, and treatment. The Komen Foundation then reversed its policy in early February, following a great public outcry from the women’s rights community.